As parents, family members, and supportive communities trying our best to help kids through their cancer journey, we can often feel at a loss as to how to help. It may feel like your child is left to fight alone, even though you are there. Going through cancer is a unique experience that can be isolating. That’s why support from friends, family, and other cancer patients and survivors is so important!
While there are many resources out there to help children and their families throughout their cancer journey, books are among the most valuable. These books — especially those written for children — can help encourage honest conversations and the healthy processing of emotions.
For children and their families, these kid-friendly books are excellent resources for comfort, understanding, and meaningful conversations. They are great for both children going through cancer treatment, or for friends and siblings who may be impacted.
Here are our top 7 picks:
1. “How Do You Care For A Very Sick Bear?” by Vanessa Bayer and Rosie Butcher
As a survivor of childhood leukemia, Vanessa Bayer is more qualified than more to write about what sick people need from their family, friends, and caregivers. This picture book is great for ages 2 to 6 and teaches kids how to know what to say and do for friends who are sick so that they can be the best friend possible. This is an excellent choice for young siblings and friends of cancer patients. This book is not cancer-specific, but it certainly applies and is informed by the author’s own experiences with pediatric cancer.
2. "The Bald-Headed Princess: Cancer, Chemo, and Courage" by Maribeth R. Ditmars
Author Maribeth Ditmars lost her son Christopher to leukemia at the age of 14. When she was teaching fourth grade, she encountered a student who was also diagnosed with cancer. She wrote this book about the spunky 11-year-old “soccer princess,” Isabel, as she learns to cope with her leukemia diagnosis and treatment. Maribeth wrote the book specifically with child cancer patients in mind — to help encourage them with a fictional tale inspired by very real, very brave kids.
3. "My Cancer Days" by Courtney Filigenzi
Emotions are a big part of any cancer journey. “My Cancer Days” helps kids approach their emotions from their diagnoses through treatment and recovery. Exploring the emotional rollercoaster of a cancer journey, this book helps children put words to their feelings and experiences while validating the scary feelings they may have. In the end, the message to childhood cancer patients: you are not alone and you can tell people how you feel.
4. “A Kid’s Book About Cancer” by Dr. Kelsie Storm and Sarah Porter
Cancer is complicated. Even adults and professionals in the medical field can have trouble wrapping their heads around it. Dr. Storm and Sarah Porter wrote this book to help demystify cancer, especially for children. With a charming picturebook format, they explain what cancer is (and is not) in a way that is easy to understand. This book is a great choice for not only childhood cancer patients but their friends and siblings as well.
5. “Cancer Party! Explain Cancer, Chemo, and Radiation to Kids in a Totally Non-Scary Way” by Sara Olsher
Sara Olsher was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 34. This is the book she wishes she had had when trying to explain cancer to her then 6-year-old. Written as a result of the conversations and experiences she had with her daughter — teaching her about cancer without scaring her. This book helps kids understand what cancer is, how treatment impacts the patient, and, most importantly, that cancer is never their fault.
6. “Amazing Annabelle: A Story for Kids Fighting Cancer” by Dyan Fox and Ben Lou
Amazing Annabelle features the story of 6-year-old Annabelle as she journeys through her cancer treatment with bravery and a whole lot of imagination. This book specifically focuses on helping kids cope with treatments and procedures that can be scary; from anesthesia and operations to scans and chemotherapy.
7. “When a Kid Like Me Fights Cancer” by Catherine Stier and Angel Chang
This gentle book presents a very important truth to kids who are battling cancer. Even though things are changing and things are scary right now, most of the important things stay the same. There are people alongside you to help you fight and win. Catherine Stier herself is a cancer survivor and presents both encouragement and complex, heavy topics in a way that children can understand.